Ordnance recoil-check



E. C. MORIARTY.

ORDNAQICE RECOIL CHECK. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1916.

1,358,386. Patented NW. 9,1920.

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E. C. MORIARTY.

ORDNANCE RECOIL CHECK.

APPLICATION FILED sum; 19, 1916.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.,

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ORDNANCE RECOIL CHECK.

. 19593865? APPLICATION F|LED3UNE19,19H5. ratenteghgggng;lgzoi X i fl? U 1 41% H i1 ii 5* J H '4 NJ! \I'? Y M Q I W i v5 Q 1 lg g 4 l Llx "T. w "i W "1 H ii L" I .ll wi l 9.: W T JPN 5 9: EN l g I, Wlygas. 5171882 Crflamkzrfy U'Ni'rae STATES PATENT oFi'icE.

ERNEST C. MORIARTY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' ORDNANCE RECOIL-GHECK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1920.

Application filed June 19, 1916. Serial No. 104,451.

clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

It is well known that a considerable bankward or recoil force results from the firing of all types of ordnance. The ability of the carriage or mount to take up the recoil varies with the elevation of the guns barrel, so that if the gun be highly elevated the line of force of the recoil is more nearly down upon the mount, than if the elevation of the gun is low when the lines of force are more nearly parallel with the mount. It is essential that all types of ordnance be equipped with some device for absorbing the energy of the recoil. However, as the angle of the elevation of the gun increases, the mount can be subjected to a greater force and the length of the recoil may be shortened. It is further advisable to shorten the length of the recoil when the gun is highly elevated in order to avoid excavating beneath the gun to allow for the long recoil necessary when the gun is at a low angle of elevation.

The object of my invention is to produce a novel recoil mechanism, which will be certain in action and at the same time simple in construction and operation and which shall be automatically adjustable s as to produce varying lengths of recoils corresponding to high, low and intermediate angles of elevation of the gun barrel.

My invention is intended for application to the known construction wherein an oilcontaining cylinder and piston are used to resist and retard the'recoil, ports and passages being provided to permit the liquid to be forced from one side of the; piston to the other during the recoil movement. My invention more particularly consists in a novel arrangement and pronounced simplification of such ports, whereby, for a maximum recoil, all the ports are rendered operative and whereby, for recoils of shorter lengths, more or less of the same ports are rendered inoperative, the location and distribution of the ports being such as to provide the proper resistance to a recoil of any length. 7

My invention further consists in means whereby a valve is automatically adjusted as the elevation of the gun barrel is changed and in such manner as to permit of different lengths of recoil as aforesaid throughout predetermined ranges of elevation.

My invention further consists in the novel combination of parts and details of construction hereinafter disclosed and more fully and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention is applicable to any form of gunin which it'is desired to limit or control the recoil. For the purpose of this specification I will disclose my invention in connection with an ordinary type of field plece.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this s ecification, in which like letters refer to li e parts in all the figures: Figure 1 is a longitudinal View partly in section through the recoil'cylinder, counter recoil cylinder, gun barrel and the mounting of an ordinary field gun. Fig. 2' is a diagrammatic view of a field gun showing the lines of force of the recoil in their relation to the supports of the gun mount at high and low angles of elevation of the piece. Fig. 3 is a cross section of the gun, recoil cylinder and counter recoil cylinder through the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view through the recoil cylinder and valve showing the valve ports in position for maximum length of recoil. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view through the recoil cylinder and valve, showing valve ports in position for minimum length of recoil. Fig. 6 is an enlarged View of the piston. Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the recoil cylinder assembly. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal developed view of the valve. V

a is the trail of the carriage; b the wheels; 0 the gun barrel; 0? the gun mount; 6 trunnions; 7 recoil cylinder; g counter recoil cylinder; h fixed piston in recoil cylinder having the lugs or raised portions j on its circumference; 6 piston rods connected .at one end with piston h; is cylindrical valve the gun mount.

extending the full length of the recoil cylinder and having the raised portions or ribs 2 extending longitudinally thereof; Z valve adjusting bevel ear in mesh with bevel gear m on forward end of piston rod; n gun barrel elevating anddepressing mechanism;

0 counter recoil pring; 9 stufiing boxyr crank; 8 link pivoted to crank 7" and lug t,

rigidly fixed on gun mount. The forward end of the piston rod is connected rigidly with the counter recoil cylinder by means of the brace M which in turn is fastened to The recoil cylinder, suit ably closed at the rear, is fastened ri idly to the gun barrel. The gun barrel is sli ably mounted in a cradle 29 swung on the trunnions e and rigidly fastened at the rear to the counter recoil cylinder piston rod w, which has at its forward end a piston 00 adapted to compress the spring 0, on being drawn backward through the cylinder g.

The forward end of the recoil cylinder is closed by means of the stuffing box q. The piston rod *6 is fastened at its rear end to thepiston h. At its forward end is suitably fastened to the piston rod the bevel gear m which meshes with the bevel gear Z.

Thecylindrical valve is, which is turnably mounted in the recoil cylinder, is restrained from longitudinal movement therein. The lugs j on the piston are adapted to register with the space between the longitudinal ribs 2 of the valve, so that the piston may slide the length of the valve and so that the valve may be turned by turnin the piston.

The valve has about its circumference, at

spaced intervals, three longitudinally extending sets of ports, each consisting of three lines of ports 10, 11, 12. The ports 10 extend the full length of the valve, while the ports 11 extend along a lesser distance than the ports 10, and the ports 12 extend along a lesser distance than the ports 11. Each of the three by-passes y is composed of a groove in the recoil cylinder adapted to register with the ports 10, 11 and 12 of the valve, there being as many 'by-pass grooves asthere are sets of ports in the valve.

The ports 10, 11 and 12 are arranged in the valve, so that when all the ports, or ports 11 and 12, or merely ports 12 are respectively registered with the by-pass, three different lengths of recoil may be obtained. When therecoil takes place the valve is drawn backward over the piston because of its connection with the recoil cylinder,

which in turn is connected with the gun barrel. The liquid in the recoil cylinder is forced to pass through the ports into the by-pass grooves and back into the recoil cylinder. behind the piston. If the gun he at such an angle as to warrant a maximum length of recoil, all of the ports 10, 11 and 12 are made to register with the by-pass grooves. The liquid is then permitted to pass into the by-pass grooves until the piston covers the end ports, 13 in the line of ports 10.

The ports-10, 11 and 12 are so proportioned that the recoil force will be completely absorbed, as the ports 13 arecovered by the piston, thus when the angle-of elevation of the gun is such as to warrant the maximum length of recoil, the ports 10, 11 and 12 in communication with the bypass grooves are proportioned to entirely absorb the recoil within the distance through which the longest line of ports, in this case ports 10, extends.

If the angle of elevation of the gun be such as to warrant an intermediate length 'of recoil, the ports 11 and 12 are made to than the line of ports 10, the recoil force is absorbed within a shorter distance and the length of the recoil is correspondingly shortened. At a higher angle the ports 12 are registered with the by-pass the ports 10 and 11 being covered.

The line of ports 12 are proportioned and disposed so as to entirely absorb the recoil before the port 15, the last port in the line 12, is covered. Hence at high angles the line of ports 12 only are registered with the bypass and the entire recoil is absorbed by them. The line of ports 12 extend along the valve a lesser distance than either of the lines 10 or 11, therefore the recoil is absorbed within a shorter distance and the length of recoil shortened.

As the length of recoil is shortened, the recoil becomes slower to allowfor the absorption of the recoil force within the shorter length of recoil.

It will be observed that whereas I have utilized-the old and well known principles of providing, for each of several lengths. of recoil, a series of orifices of such size, nuniher and distribution as to take up the recoil gradually throughout its length, I have accomplished this result by the utilization of only the single set of orifices required for the greatest length of recoil and have such total capacity, and so arranged, as

s s pushes the crank 1' forward, the gears Z provide the proper conditions for a recoil and m are set in motion, and the piston rod 2' is turned. The turning of the piston rod 2' causes the piston to turn, thus turning the valve by means of the registering lugs j and z 011 the valve and piston. The ports are so proportioned as to exert the proper resistance to the recoil. The ports 10, 11 and 12 are so proportioned and disposed on the valve and the ratio of the gears Z and m relative to the arrangement of the ports is such that within a predetermined range of degree of elevation the ports 10, 11 and 12 will register with the by-pass. range of degree above the maximum degree of elevation during which the ports 10, 11 and 12 register with the by-pass, the ports 11 and 12 will register with the by-pass, the ports 10 being covered. Above the maximum degree of elevation of this range, the ports 12 will register with the by-pass, the ports 10 and 11 being covered. Thus three lengths of recoil are given over three ranges of degree of elevation. It is self evident that any number of additional lengths of recoil may be obtained by increasing the number of lines of ports inv a set. The gun is brought back to in battery position in the usual way by means of the counterrecoil mechanism which is of the conventional type.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a gun barrel, of a recoil cylinder adapted to control the recoil of the gun barrel and provided with internal projections extending lengthwise therein forming a series of by-passes, a piston, a cylindrical valve having therein ports, arranged in longitudinal lines of different lengths, adapted to register simultaneously with the by-pas'ses formed between said projections, and means to rotate the valve to close the lines of ports progressively as the elevation of the gun barrel is increased and to open the lines of ports progressively as the elevation of the gun barrel is decreased.

2. The combination with a gun barrel, of a recoil cylinder. adapted to control the recoil of the gun barrel and provided with a Within a series of lengthwise extending projections, a piston, a cylindrical valve carried by said projections and revoluble in the reco1l cylinder, having therein sets of ports arranged in longitudinal lines of different lengths adapted to communicate simultaneously with the spaces between said projections, means to revolve the valve to open all the lines of ports of each set with the gun barrel in an approximately horizontal position and to close and maintain closed the lines of ports,

one from each set at a time, the longest first,

as the elevation of the gun is increased, whereby the number of lines of open ports,

as well as the length thereof will vary inversely with the elevation.

3. The combination with a gun barrel, of a recoil cylinder adapted to control the recoil of the gun barrel and provided with horizontally extending lands and grooves, a piston, a cylindrical valve revoluble in the recoil cylinder, having therein ports arranged in longitudinal lines of different lengths adapted to communicate with said grooves, the shortest of said lines of ports being permanently in communication with said grooves, andmeans to revolve the valve to progressively open and maintain open, in the reverse order of their length, the remaining lines of ports as the gun barrel approaches the horizontal position until all the lines of ports are open.

4. The combination with a gun barrel, of a recoil cylinder adapted to control the recoil of the gun barrel and provided with a bypass groove formed between a pair of horizontally extending lands formed on the inner surface of said cylinder, a cylindrical valve having therein ports, arranged in longitudinal lines of different lengths, all or a portion of said lines of ports being adapted to register with the by-pass groove, means to shut ofi' all but one of the lines of ports from the by-pass groove, progressively, as the elevation of the gun barrel is increased and to open all the lines of ports to the bypass groove, progressively, as the elevation of the gun barrel is decreased.

5. The combination with a gun barrel, of a recoil cylinder mounted thereon and having a by-pass groove formed therein between a pair of horizontally extending projections on the inner surface of said cylinder, a cylindrical valve provided with ports arranged in longitudinal lines of diiferent lengths all or a portion of said lines of ports being adapted to register with the by-pass groove, said lines of ports being so proportioned that the recoil of the gun barrel will be absorbed with equal effectiveness Whether all or only a portion of said lines of ports are registered with the by-pass groove, the length of recoil being determined by the longest line of ports in communication with the by-pass groove at the moment of recoil,

and means to open and close communication between more or fewer lines of ports and the by-pass groove.

6. The combination with a gun barrel, of

y a recoil cylinder, the internal diameter of shut ofi progressively all but one of the lines' of ports from said portions of the cylinder as the elevation of the gun is raised and to open to said portions all the lines of ports progressively as the elevation of the gun is decreased.

7 The combination with a gun barrel, of a recoil cylinder adapted to control the recoil of the gun barrel and provided with internal projections extending lengthwise therein and forming a series of bypasses, a piston, a cylindrical valve having therein lines of ports corresponding to a given length of recoil and adapted to be constantly I open to the said by asses, and additional lines of ports of di erent lengths adapted to be progressively opened to said bypasses permitting varying lengths of recoil.

v 8. The combination with a gun barrel, of a recoil cylinder adapted to control the recoil of the gun barrel, said cylinder being provided with means forming a longitudinally extending by-pass, a cylindrical valve within said cylinder, and a: piston within said valve, said valve being provided with ports arranged in avplurality of longitudinally extending'series, the first series corresponding to a minimum length of recoil and being in constant 'full communication with the by-pass, the second series when in full communication with the by-pass together with the first series corresponding to a greater length of recoil, and means to r0- tate the valve as the elevation of the gun barrel is decreased to open the second series hereunto set my hand, at Philada., Penna,

on this 13th day of June 1916.

ERNEST a. MORIARTY. 

